Federal govt aims to cut Terengganu poor households to 20,000 by year-end

The Malaysian federal government is striving to reduce the number of impoverished households in Terengganu to 20,000 by the end of this year, according to Datuk Norashiken Ishak, deputy director-general of the Strategic Development, Implementation Coordination Unit. As of August 13, there were 24,100 poor households in Terengganu, a decrease from 26,800 households in early July.

This initiative is a result of coordinated efforts between Terengganu's ICU JPM and related agencies, aimed at increasing income, expanding economic opportunities, and stabilizing the lives of eKasih participants. At a program held for Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus zones, Norashiken highlighted that her team has also improved the living standards of the B40 and eKasih participants through 310 Rumah Kasih Ihsan projects, with a total allocation of RM18.44 million.

This includes 161 new constructions, 146 house renovations, and three new stilt house constructions. The Program Jelajah Kesejahteraan Rakyat 2026, which took place today, united various agencies' services and interventions to help eKasih households access the assistance and services they need. The program, which drew 4,000 visitors including 700 eKasih participants, featured 18 government service booths for advisory services, eligibility checks, and tailored assistance.